[Sportschosun Reporter Jang Jong-ho] A female passenger reportedly defecated in her seat on a flight, leaving passengers on board to endure a foul smell for about 40 minutes.
According to Chinese media outlets including Jimu News, a strong odor suddenly spread aboard AirAsia Flight AK1516 around 10:30 p.m. on the 18th, while it was flying from Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Malaysia to Shanghai Pudong International Airport in China. The incident occurred around 2 a.m., about 40 to 50 minutes before landing.
At the time, most passengers were asleep when a female passenger was seen rushing toward the restroom with a plastic bag. Not long after, a strong stench reportedly began to spread through the cabin.
Nearby passengers initially thought someone had vomited. But as the smell grew worse, even passengers in the rows ahead and behind woke up, according to reports.
One passenger told local media that after a person in the front seat turned around, feces were found on the floor. The passenger also claimed that waste was later discovered on the seat and surrounding floor where the woman had been sitting. The seat was only about 5 meters from the restroom.
One witness said, "The restroom was right behind her, and it wasn't even in use at the time," adding that it was hard to understand why she would use the seat instead.
Flight attendants reportedly moved in after receiving complaints from passengers and cleaned the contaminated area. Some reports said they wiped the area with tissue and sprayed perfume in an effort to reduce the odor, but they were unable to eliminate it completely.
Passengers also said the cabin environment changed significantly as the plane prepared to land, causing considerable discomfort. One passenger claimed they had to endure the foul smell for about 40 minutes until landing.
After the incident, some passengers also voiced frustration over whether the airline would provide compensation. Some said they tried to contact the airline but received no meaningful response.
AirAsia officially confirmed the incident on the 21st.
The airline said, "As the flight was preparing to land, the crew discovered a hygiene issue in the cabin aisle," adding, "The crew wore gloves and used towels to temporarily clean the area."
It added that additional cleaning and disinfection were carried out after the aircraft landed.
However, AirAsia's official explanation did not include specific details confirming that the passenger had actually defecated in the seat, nor did it mention any separate action taken against the passenger or whether nearby passengers were compensated.
Reporter Jang Jong-ho bellho@sportschosun.com
This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.
